Machine for simultaneously flanging and double seaming the ends of metal containers



April 12, 1932. c, RHODES 1,853,881

NGING AND DOUBLE CONTAINERS MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FLA SEAMING THEENDS OF METAL Filed Nov. 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet April 12, 1932. c. J.RHODES 1,853,881

AND DOUBT-E MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FLANGING SEAMING THE ENDS OFMETAL CONTAINERS Irv/67250 33 Cfiarlefi aepil Biwclss by MA 9. PM

April 12, 1932. c J, RHODES 1,853,881

MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FLANGING AND DOUBLE SEAMING THE ENDS OF METALCONTAINERS Filed Nov. 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 H ID In msw'br:

y a ,0 v Q A i W fizzy 1,853,881 NG AND DOUBLE HE ENDS 0F METALCONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. RHODES April 12, 1932. c

' MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FLANGI SEAMING T Filed NOV. 7, 1929Patented Apr. 12 1932 UNi TED rmes] omnns JOSEPH enonns, onwAKnrIE n;ENGLAND:

MAGHINE no.3. sIMULTANE uSLY-"FLANGING D DOUBLE" SEAMING THE ENDS onMETAL "CONTAINERS 1 Application filed N'ovemb'e'r 7, 1929, Serial No.405,366, andiii Great Britain J'une 4, 1929.

This invention relates to machines for simultazneously flanging anddouble seaming the ends of. metal containers, and it .has for its objectcertain improvements whereby the desired operations may be'efi'ected inva much more rapid and efficient manner than is possible with machinesforthispurpose as generally c0nstructed=..

According to this invention the container is supportedby' means ofchucks'which,in the known manner, are inserted in the flanged endclosures-previously applied. to the container; The'fianging: is eiiectedby meansof a roller mounted upon an arm having a radial movement towardsand away from. the rear face of the chuck, and in a plane. at .a rightangle-to the-plane of rotation of the said chuck The arm isspring'actuated in-onedirection and is positively operated against theaction of. the. spring'at the desired intervals to-cause the rollerthereonto act upon the end of the container, a roller is also providedcooperating with' the'chuck during the flanging operation. Otherrollersarranged in a known manner eifectt'he curling and flattening operations.

The invention; further provides improved means for presenting thecontainers to the chucks. V

A machine embodying the present inventlOIlz conveniently ,comprise asuitable frame supporting coaxially disposed suitably spaced. shafts.driven, in. any suitable manner, each of said-.shaftsat. inner endbeingprovidedwithabody carrying spindles also-a1; ranged. axialalignment and disposedin planes parallel'to the axis ofthe shaftscarry-.

ing said bodies. v g

-Phe spindles just referred to are each pro;- vided' attheir inner endswith rotary chucks adapted to. engage the end closuresof'thecontainersfor'which purpose the spindles have imparted tothem a. motiontoward'sthe containers, and, on thecompletion of the operations arewithdrawn" to free the containers and permit their dischargefrom themachine.

Pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machineistan. arm bifuroated atits free end,

and% having-fmountedin said bifurcation a.

spindle cazrryingxalflangingqroller. The; arm

receptacle at suitable points ofits length.

is spring-actuated in one direction, its motion beinglimited 'by meansofa: stop; The spindle ofthe roller carriesa second roller engage ing'a-"revolving' cam track, the contour of which is-such thatasthecontaineris moved I bodily towardsthe rollerth'e arm. is actuatedthereby increasing the width of the previous- 1y formed flange in. theclosure, and at the same time Hanging the end of the body of'thecontainer. i I v A second roller'is provided uponthe frame of themachinedisposed at a right angleito the fianging. roller, said fixed rollerengaging the exterior ofgthecontainer in the plane of th e' chuck. Thearm carrying the fian'gi'ng'rolleris so arrangedfthat the line thereofis 'ta'ngen'i tial' to, or substantially tangential to a circlerepresenting the circular path of movement of the container. v

Thefee'ding of'the bodies of the receptacles to'the chucksmay beeffected by means of a 7 member pivota'lly m'ounted at its outer endupon the base plate of the machine, and having at its inner end, rollerswhich are maintained by the piston rod of a spring actuated piston of adashpot in contact with a cradle adapted to engage the body of the Ther'e'ceptacle is placed by" hand in the cradle, and when in positionthereinthe innerend of the pivoted member is engaged by a rotatingarm-which lifts it together with the cradle and-the receptacle thereinuntilthe receptacle is in position to be engaged by the ch'ucksi When soengaged, the pi v-' oted" member isfree of the arm operating it,

and under the'weight of the partsfa'llsdown "ward, its too rapid descentbeingchecked by the dashpot, the 'partfsare in position ready to receivethe next containerr In order that theu'invention: may bethe betterunderstood, drawingszare appended showing one formof the inventionthereof Fig. 1 isan elevation of a machine embody ing the present:invention. v 1

- Fig. 2 is?- a transverse section online-A:A Fig.1. v. i Fig.3 is anend view..v

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on line BB Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing certain details.

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views showing the various stages of the processof placing the ends upon a container.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 indicates the base of themachine mounted upon which are brackets 2, 3 having formed integraltherewith bearings 4, 5 in which is carried a horizontallydisposed'shaft 6, which extends from end to end of the machine.

Freely mounted upon the shaft 6 and extending through a bearing 7 formedintegral with abracket 8, is a sleeve 9. Disposed at points near eachend of the shaft 6, and keyed thereto are pinions 10, 10 disposed withingear boxes 11, 11 revolubly mounted upon the saidshaft and provided atdiametrically opposite points with bearings 12, in which are carriedhorizontally disposed shafts 13 which extend inwardly of the machine andat their inner ends carry chucks 14, the said shafts 13, being supportedat points near their inner ends by means of bearings 15.

Ihe bearings 15, which are arranged to slide in a horizontal plane arecarried within channels or recesses 16, formed in bodies 17 extendingbetween and formed integral with the bearings 12, and substantiallyrectangular shaped plates or bodies 18, formed'integral with the innerends of bosses 19, surrounding the shaft 6 and cast upon the gear boxes11, 11.

Disposed within the gear boxes 11, 11 and splined upon the shafts 13 arepinions 20 with whichengage the aforementioned pinions 10, thearrangement being such that when motion is transmitted to the shaft 6 ina manner to be hereinafter described, the chucks 14 are caused torevolve.

Mounted upon the shaft 6 and secured at its ends to the bodies 18 is atubular body or sleeve 21, which in effect serves to rigidly connect thegear box 11, with the gear box 11. The aforementioned sleeve 9 is at itsinner end provided with a flange 9 by means of which the said sleeve issecured to the gear box 11 in order that when motion is transmitted tothe sleeve from a main drive shaft 22, provided with fast and loosepulleys 23 and 24, respectively, and a pinion 25, which engages with apinion 26 keyed to the said sleeve. 9, the gear boxes 11, 11, arerevolved about the shaft 6. 27 indicates a countershaft mounted inbearings 28, 29 carried upon or formed integral with the brackets 3 and8' respectively and having mounted thereon a pinion 30 with whichengages a pinion-31 keyed to the sleeve 9 whereby motion is imparted tothe said countershaft.

Keyed upon the countershaft 27 is a sprocket wheel 32 from which motionis imparted to the shaft 6, by means of a chain 33,

which passes around the said sprocket wheel 32, and a second sprocketwheel 34, upon the said shaft 6.

Disposed upon either side of the machine and carried upon the upper endsof pairs of standards 35, 35 and 36, 36, respectively, are horizontallydisposed girders between which is supported a substantially arcuatemember which extends over the centre of the machine and carries uponeach of its sides adjustably mounted brackets37, each provided at theirlower extremities with bearings 38, 39 in which are mounted spindles 40,which carry supporting rollers 41, curling rollers 42, 43 and flatteningrollers 44, such as shown in Fig. 2.

45, 45 indicate vertically disposed brackets or frames mounted upon thebase of the ma chine and mounted upon each of which is an annulus 46,provided upon its respective faces with cam surfaces 47 and 48 such asindicated more clearly in Fig. 5, and with which cam faces engagerollers 49, 50 mounted within slotted lugs 51 formed integral with theupper portions of each bearing 15, the arrangement being such that whenthe gear boxes 11, 11 are in motion, the bearings 15 are reeiprocatedlongitudinally of the machine.

In order to cause the shafts 13, to be reciprocated with the bearings 15the said shafts are provided with collars 15 15 The shape of the camsurfaces 47 and48 is such that, when the chucks 14, which as will bereadily seen from the foregoing description, revolve bodily around theshaft 6, are travelling through a certain portion of their path ofrotation about the shaft 6 they are caused to move toward each other togrip the container in the manner shown in Fig. 7, and carry itsuccessively into engagement with the aforementioned rollers 41, 42, 43,and 44, after which the said cam faces cause the chucks to separate andrelease the said container.

Mounted or formed upon the inner faces of each of the standards 35, 35,are lugs 52, 53

which form bearings for spindles 54, upon which are pivotally mountedthe outer ends of levers 55, the inner ends of which are bifurcated andcarry spindles 56, upon which are mounted flanging rollers 57.

Carried by means of brackets 58 and projecting from the inner face ofeach of the bearings 15 is a cam 59, and mounted upon each of'thespindles 56, in the path of movement of each of the said cams, is aroller 60, the purpose of the cams being to engage with the rollers 60,and cause the levers to be moved against the action of springs 55, andtoward. each other as the container is brought under the edge of thesupporting rollers 41, to increase the flange on the end blanks there ofand at the same time form a flange upon each end ofthe wall of the saidcontainer in cover. flanges to extend beyond. said body flanges,'means=for curling the cover flanges. inwardly down and. overthe body flanges,

means for. flattening the flanges so curled,

the-manner shown in Fig. 8. v I

1 The containenafter passingunder the-ac; tion of flanging rollers 57,is successively moved into engagement with the pairs of curling rollers42, 43 where it is operated upon in the manner shown in Fig.9, afterwhich it is moved into engagement with the flattening rollers 44:, inthe mannershown in Fig.10'.

61 indicates acradle into which the'containersare placed, and in whichthey are fed to the chucks; the said cradle being-carried upon the outerendseof bodies 62, revolubly mounted upon the sleeve'2l as shownrmore'clearly in Fig. 5 in. which the said cradleis'to be seen in itslowermost p'ostion and resting.

upon rollers 63, 63, mounted upon a spindle 64 carried by a bearing 65formed upon the inner end of an inclined lever 66 pivotally mountedatits outer end upon a shaft 67 car'- ried in bearings 681noun'ted uponthe base 1.

The inner end of the lever 66 is normally supported upon the upper endofa piston rod 69 connected at its lower end toanv oil filled dashpot 7 O.Clamped aroundthe sleeve 21 are semi-circular bodies 71, 71?, providedwith outwardly extending portions or members 7 2, 72", respectively,which projectfrom opposite sides of the saidsleeve, and. are so designedthatwhen the sleeveis' in rotation they successively engage with theinner end of the lever 66;

When one or other of the members '72 or z 7 2 engages with the'inner endof the lever 66, the said lever is raised, the cradle together with thecontainer therein thus being the chucks, the respective member 72 or72*, I

as the case may he, passes out of contact with the end of the lever 66,and permits the same together with the cradle to return to-its lowermostposition, the cradle itself being pro vided with a slot 73 through whichthe said member passes after moving out of contact with the lever. I 7

Whilst the cradle is being raised, the piston-rod is caused, by means ofa spring acting upon the dashpotpiston, to rise intoits uppermostposition, in which position it is ready to subsequently permit thecradle to be eased gently into lowermost position. I,

1. In a machine for simultaneously flanging and double seaming, the endsof metal containers, in combination, means for feeding' containers withflanged covers thereon to said machines, means for-engaging the coversof said containers for carrying said-containers through the machine,means for flangingthe ends of the container body and simultaneouslyincreasing the diameter of the onto the side end-porinons of thecontainer bodies, and means forreleasing thefinished containers fordelivery from the machine. 2. In a machine for simultaneously flangingand double seaming the ends of metal containers, in combination,mechanism for rotatively supporting and moving containers with theirflanged closures throu h: the machine, devices engaging the saidfl suresfor increasing the width of the pre anged cloviouslyformed flanges onthe closures, and

for simultaneously flanging the ends of the bodyof said container,meansfon curling the closure flanges overthe body flanges and means forflattening the interlocked flanges against the side end portions of thecontainer body. 7 v c. 3. In a machinefor simultaneously flanging anddouble seaming the ends of metal containers, in combination, mechanismfor is conveying metal containers and their preflangedend closuresbodily around a-fixed center, means vfor simultaneously rotating saidcontainers around their own axes, means engaging the flanged closures toimparta rolling inward'thrust in a line co-incident with thewall of saidcontainers and rolling means for imparting a rolling thrustsubstantially co -incident with the walls of said closures, said rollingthrust collectively increasin g the width of the pre-formed flange onthe saidclosures and forming flanges on the ends of the containerbodies, means for. curling the widened closure flanges over the body.

flanges and means for turning and flattening said interlocked flangesonto the side ends of" said container.

mechanism for conveying metal containers and their pre-flangedendclosures through the machine, means engaging the ends and sidesofsaid containers forwidening the preformed flanges on said closures andfor simul-' tan'eously forming flanges on'the ends ofthecontainerbodies,means for curling the closure flanges so widened overthe body flanges so formed, and means for flattening said interlockedbody and closure flangesontothe sides ofsaid container body. 5. In amachineof the class described,

chucks for supporting the-containers having prev1ously lnserted. flangedend enclosures,

arms swingable towards and away from the rear faces of said chucks andin a plane-at right angles to the'rotation of said chucks;

ate'd to cause the rollers thereon to roll-'onthe s endenclosures of'the container for widen- 4. In a machine of the class described,

ing the closure flanges and for forming flanges on the container bodies;and rollers bearing on the side ends of the flange body and coactingwith the rollers on said arms and with the chucks in the flangingoperation.

6. In a machine for simultaneously flanging-and double seaming the endsof metal containers, in combination, chucks for engaging theoppositeends of the containers, bodies supporting said chucks, means forrotating said bodies, means for rotating said chucks on said supportingbodies, means for advancing and withdrawing said chucks into and out ofengagement with the ends of the containers, levers pivotally mounted toswin in a plane at a right angle to the plane or rotation of saidchucks, a flanging roller upon each of said levers having its axis ofrotation disposed at a right angle with respect to the axis of rotationof said chucks, means for actuating said levers to bring said flangingrollers into and out of operative engagement with the respective ends ofthe containers, further. rollers designed to cooperate with the flangingrollers and arranged with their axes of rotation at right angles to theaxis of rotation of the chucks, curling and flattening rollers fixedwith respect to said cl1ucks,'and means for feeding the containers tothe machine.

7. In a machine for simultaneously flanging and double seaming the endsof metal containers, in combination, a shaft, means for rotating saidshaft, a body upon the shaft, a second body upon the said shaft, saidbodies being disposed in suitably spaced relation ship, means forrotating said bodies independently of said shaft, bearings slidable uponsaid bodies, spindles carried by said bearings, pinions on saidspindles, pinions upon said first shaft engaged by said pinions, chucksupon said spindles, means for advancing and withdrawing said bearings tobring the chucks into and out of engagement with the ends of thecontainers, levers'pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine, aflanging roller upon one end of each of said levers, a second rolleralso upon each of said levers, rotary cams engaging each of said secondrollers to actuate the levers to cause the flan ging rollers to operateupon the respective ends of the containers, means actuating the leversto remove the flanging rollers from their operative positions, furtherrollers cooperating with the respective flanging rollers, curling andflattening rollers, and means for feeding the containers to the machine.

8. In a machine for simultaneously flanging and double seaming the endsof metal containers, in combination, a shaft, means for rotating saidshaft, a body upon the shaft, a second body upon the said shaft, saidbodies being disposed in suitably spaced relationship, means forrotating said bodies independently of said shaft, bearings slidable uponsaid bodies, spindles carried by said bearings, pinions on saidspindles, pinions upon said first shaft engaged by said pinions, chucksupon said spindles, means for advancing and withdrawing said bearings tobring the chucks into and out of engagement with the ends of thecontainers, levers pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine, aflanging roller upon one end of each of said levers, a second rollerupon each of said levers, rotary cams engaging each of said secondrollers to actuate the levers to cause the flanging rollers to operateupon the respective ends of the containers, means actuating the leversto remove the flanging rollers from their operative positions, fixedrollers cooperating with the respective flanging rollers and disposed ina plane at a right angle to the planes of said flanging rollers, curlingand flattening rollers, and means for feeding the containers to themachine.

9. In a machine for simultaneously flanging and double seaming the endsof metal containers, in combination, a shaft, means for rotating saidshaft, a body upon the shaft, a second body upon the shaft, said bodiesbeing disposed in suitably spaced relationship, means for rotating saidbodies independently of said shaft, bearings slidable upon said bodies,spindles carried by said bearings, pinions on said spindles, pinionsupon said first shaft engaged by said pinions, chucks upon saidspindles, means for advancing and withdrawing said bearings to bring thechucks into and out of engagement with the ends of the containers,levers pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine, a flangingroller upon one end of each of said levers, a second roller upon each ofsaid levers, rotary cams engaging eachof said second rollers to actuatethe levers to cause the flanging rollers to operate upon the respectiveends of the containers, springs acting upon the levers to cause them toremove the flanging rollers from their operative positions, fixedrollers cooperating with the respective flanging rollers and disposingin a plane at a right angle to the planes of said flanging rollers,curling and flattening rollers, and means for feeding the containers tothe machine.

10. In a machine for simultaneously flanging and double seaming the endsof metal containers, in combination, chucks for engaging the oppositeends of the containers, bodies supporting said chucks, means forrotating said bodies, means for rotating said chucks on said supportingbodies, means for advancing and withdrawing said chucks into and out ofengagement with the ends of the containers, levers pivotally mounted toswing in a plane at a right angle to the plane of rotation of saidchucks, a flanging roller upon each of said levers having its axis ofrotation disposed at a right angle with respect to theaxis of rotationof said chucks,

means for actuating said levers to bring said flanging rollers into andout of operative engagement with the respective ends of the containers,a second pair of rollers designed to cooperate with the respectiveflanging rollers and arranged with their axes of rotation at rightangles to the axis of rotation of the chuc with respect to said chucks,and means for feeding the containers to the machine, comprising, apivotally supported cradle adapted to partially surround the receptacle,a lever pivoted to the base of the machine at its outer end, rollersupon the inner end of said lever engaging said cradle, rotating membersfor engaging the inner end of said lever to raise the same together withthe cradle in order to bring the container into position to be engagedby the chucks, said members moving out of engagement with said lever topermit it and said cradle to return to its normal position, and a bufferfor checking the return movement of the cradle. 11. In a machine forsimultaneously flanging and double seaming the ends of metalcontainers,in combination, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a body upon theshaft, a

second body upon the said shaft, said bodies being disposed in suitablyspaced relationship, means for rotating said bodiesindependently ofsaid-shaft, bearings slidable upon said bodies, spindles carried by saidbearings, pinions on said spindles, pinions upon said first shaftengaged by said pinions, chucks upon said spindles, means for advancingand Withdrawing said bearings to bring the chucks into and out ofengagement with the ends of the containers, levers pivotally mountedupon the frame of the machine, a

flanging roller upon one end of each of said levers, a second rolleralso upon each of said levers, rotary cams engaging each of said secondrollers to actuate the levers to cause the flanging rollers to operateupon the respective ends of the containers, means actuating the leversto remove the flanging rollers from their operative positions, furtherrollers cooperating with the respective flanging rollers, curling andflattening rollers, and means for feeding the containers to the machine,comprising, a pivotally supported cradle adapted to partially surroundthe receptacle, a lever pivoted to the base of the machine at its outerend, rollers upon the inner end of said lever engaging said cradle,rotating members for engaging the inner end of said lever to raise thesame together with the cradle in order to bring the container intoposition to be engaged by the chucks, said members moving out ofengagement with said lever to permit it and said cradle to res, curlingandflattening rollers fixed ing-metal containers by contact with theirpre-flanged end closures in combination with rollingmeans engaging theflanges of said closures and the side end edges of said containers forwidening the flanges on said closures and for forming flanges on theends of said containers of substantially less than the width of thewidened flanges on said end closures, rolling means for curling theclo-' sure flanges over the body flanges and simultaneously flatteningthe said interlocked flanges. V

13. A double heading, flanging and seaming machine for containerscomprising in combination a hollow revolvable shaft, gear boxes rigidwith said shaft and carrying bearings distant from said shaft, spacedaligned shafts journalled in said bearings, a

countershaft revolvably mounted in the hollow of said first shaft, gearsfixedly mounted on said countershaftand disposed in said boxes, pinionsfixedly carried by said aligned shafts and meshing with saidgears,chucks mounted on the inner ends ofv said aligned shafts for holdingopposed container heads, between which latter the container bodies arepositioned; a stationary member; and

rollers of different contour carried by said member at the path ofmovement of the periphery of said chucks for successively .en-

gaging the adjoining head and'body portions distant from said shaft,pairs of spaced aligned shafts journalled in said bearings, acountershaft revolvably mounted in I the hollow of said first shaft,gears fixedly mounted on said countershaft and disposed in said boxes,pinions fixedly carried by said aligned shafts and meshing with saidgears, chucks mounted on the inner ends of said aligned shafts at oneside of the machine for holding containers at one of their ends,chucksmountber; and rollers of different contour carried by said memberat the path of movement of the periphery of said last mentioned chucksfor successively engaging the adjoining'container end and head portionsto flange and l seam the same, said aligned shafts with their mountingsbeing revolvable about their axes to cooperate with said rollers. 1 'Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARLES JOSEPH RHODES.

